Darjeeling is a name that many people associate with tea, but there is much more to this hill station than its delicate orange pekoe. Sprinkled along a mountain ridge at an elevation of 2100m (6900ft), it is a gateway to the high Himalayas, and sits under the icy gaze of Khangchendzonga, the world’s third-highest mountain at 8586m (28,169ft).
The historic popularity of India‘s “Queen of the Hills” stems, in part, from the accessibility provided by its audacious railway from Siliguri. Locomotives still belch steam as they chug into town each day. But that is nothing compared to the convoys of 4WDs (the camels of the hills) that make the hours-long journey up from the plains around Siliguri to Darjeeling along Hill Cart Rd.
Winters get chilly in the mountains, but in summer, the warm weather and natural beauty of these delightful hills are the perfect antidote to the cloying heat and dust of the plains either side of the monsoon. This is precisely what made it a favored hill station of the British East India Company in the past, and a popular destination with visitors from West Bengal and beyond today.
Darjeeling’s combination of Tibetan culture and cuisine, excellent tea, heritage relics and modern attractions make it a joy to explore. Here are the region’s top experiences to get you started.
1. Watch the sunrise over some of the world’s highest mountains
Every morning, an hour before light starts diffusing into the night sky, a convoy of 4WDs trundles out of Darjeeling. The procession winds its way up the steep sides of Tiger Hill (2590m/8497ft), a peak that usually pokes above the pall of mist that envelops Darjeeling on most mornings. Sitting almost 500m (1640ft) above Darjeeling, the top of Tiger Hill offers an impeccable view of Mt Khangchendzonga. The view also takes in the more distant Mt Everest (8848m/29,032ft) and many of the world’s other highest mountains.
A murmur ripples through the crowd as the first rays of sunlight paint the face of Khangchendzonga a warm pink. Gradually, the sun clambers down to the ridge-top towns below, which sit like a tangle of fairy lights in the mist. Then the convoy fires up once more for the return trip to Darjeeling.
Planning tip: There are dozens of companies running tours to Tiger Hill from Darjeeling. Aim to get there early for a clear view, but wrap up warm. Chai wallahs work their way through the…
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